Ucross Foundation Receives Grant

February 4, 2021Ucross Foundation announced that it will receive an $11,000 award from The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support its prestigious artist residency program in northeast Wyoming. Specifically, this grant award will provide support for Latinx writers and artists in residence in 2021. Ucross is among 1,073 projects across America totaling nearly $25 million that were selected during this first round of fiscal year 2021 funding in the Grants for Arts Projects funding category. It was the only art program in Wyoming to receive an NEA grant this year.

“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support Ucross,” said Arts Endowment Acting Chairman Ann Eilers. “Ucross is among the arts organizations across the country that have demonstrated creativity, excellence, and resilience during this very challenging year.”

The Foundation received a similar NEA in 2020, which, according to Bill Belcher, Director of Development and External Relations, the first grant was used to help expand the Native American Artists program to include not only visual artists but also Native American Writers. “We are honored and very proud to get the NEA Grant, it will help our outreach to artists and help to raise Ucross Foundation profile as an opportunity for artists of all backgrounds.”

“Ucross’s mission-driven commitment to artists is made possible through the generosity of our wonderful donors, partners, and grant-makers,” said Sharon Dynak, President and Executive Director of Ucross. “We are grateful to The National Endowment for the Arts for this grant award, which provides both a boost of confidence in our programs and the funds to translate vision into action.”

On January 14 the Foundation also announce a new board member, past Ucross Fellow Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. A playwright, his plays include Everybody, Neighbors and An Octoroon.

Since its founding in 1981, Ucross has provided more than 2,500 residencies to writers, visual artists, and composers.